The Estonian University of Life Sciences and the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) have signed a cooperation agreement to advance research on human performance, the effects of environmental conditions, and the effectiveness of protective clothing and personal protective equipment.
The partnership will focus on the effects of cold climates on human physiological responses and work performance. As part of the collaboration, the partners will expand a database of thermo-physiological experimental data used to validate and improve mathematical models.
"These models make it possible to assess how different environmental conditions affect human performance. Based on the results, it is possible to select the most appropriate protective clothing and equipment, plan work and rest schedules, and ensure optimal operational performance for military personnel. When combined with weather forecasts, the models can also support planning for work and missions by helping determine the equipment needed in both the short and long term," said Kalev Kuklane, Visiting Research Fellow in Ergonomics at the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
The cooperation agreement with the U.S. researchers is one of the first steps toward the Estonian University of Life Sciences' long-term goal of establishing a competence centre dedicated to testing and evaluating the ergonomic performance of protective clothing and equipment. The centre would create new opportunities for international research collaboration and support the development and assessment of protective equipment for defence, rescue services, and other occupations involving outdoor work.
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Visiting Research Fellow in Ergonomics
Institute of Forestry and Engineering
Chair of Biosystems Engineering
